Stock House Plans vs. Custom Home Plans

The building process requires you to address many different aspects. Such things as where to build, what size home to build, what features to include, what items to include, what costs should be included in the budget, what the design/build timeframes should be, and who will build the home, are just a few of the important aspects that need special attention. Once they have been addressed, house plans will need to be considered.

There are two basic types of house plans that can be purchased, custom or stock. Each type has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. The type you select will be determined by your current and future lifestyle, your budget, and the amount of time you have to put into the design and construction of your home.

Custom House Plans

Like the name, custom house plans are customizable. They are custom drawn to meet your specific needs. The plans are typically drawn by a licensed building designer or a licensed architect in a geographic location close to where the owners live or close to where the home will be built. Normally, the process is complicated and time-consuming because the owner's specific requests need to be integrated into the overall design of the home. Often times, special request to the house plan present significant challenges to the designer of the home. Special requests result in additional time needed to resolve the design changes.

The costs associated with the development of custom house plans tend to be significantly larger than those for a similar set of stock house plans. Custom house plans may exceed several thousand dollars. This is particularly due to all the special attention and time needed to perfect the plans to specific needs. Most people have a choice between custom and stock plans, but in some cases the custom house plan is the only viable option based on the client's needs, home location, special building considerations, etc. For example, handicapped access may be needed or perhaps an extra large garage for a boat.

Stock House Plans

Stock house plans differ from custom house plans in that they have been pre-developed to fit the needs of a particular group of the general population. Unlike custom house plans, they are not custom designed for a particular person. Instead they are standardized for the needs of a larger group.

There are many different stock house plans to select from. Normally they include the "most requested" features which include square footage, room dimensions, floor plan layout, amenities, and similar features. Most people would agree that these house plans provide an excellent value when compared to the corresponding price of a set of fully custom house plans.

Stock house plans are significantly less expensive. This is the case because you're not paying for the countless hours spent drawing up a plan, re-working the plan, and finalizing drafts. Stock house plans are simply re-used plans. They can be very easily purchased and you can even submit the plans for a building permit the day after receiving them.

They only drawback to stock plans are that they are not as extensively customizable as custom home plans are. However, keep in mind that minor plan modifications can usually be made by the original designer or a local designer for a minimal charge. More often than not, you will be able to find what you're looking for in a stock house plan. Unless, however, you have specific needs such as handicap access that need to be addressed through a custom plan.

Looking For More Information On Custom Home Building?

Custom home building is a great investment. You'll want to make sure you are choosing the right custom home builder for your new house and your budget. We offer Free Custom Home Building Price Quotes from local, prescreened home builders.